Director of Programs and Performing Arts

Community Access to the Arts (CATA)

Director of Programs and Performing Arts

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) seeks a Director of Programs and Performing Arts to lead dynamic performing arts programs for artists with disabilities and to nurture partnerships with community-based organizations. This senior leadership role is ideal for a seasoned arts administrator with deep expertise in the performing arts, a talent for relationship-building, and a strong commitment to community impact.

About CATA:

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) is a trailblazing nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities through the arts. In powerful arts programs, people with disabilities express themselves creatively, developing personally and artistically through dance, theater, music, painting, yoga, creative writing, and more. Their vibrant work is showcased in CATA's public performances, readings, and art exhibits, presented in collaboration with premier cultural institutions in the Berkshires including The Clark Art Institute, Shakespeare & Company, and The Mount.

CATA has dramatically expanded its programs and impact in recent years through robust partnerships with 65 community-based organizations, including disability agencies, residences, and schools, to serve over 1,300 CATA artists annually. Programs focus especially on people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism, and brain injuries–historically among the most underserved groups in the arts–and are taught by a professional faculty of talented teaching artists, all experts in their artistic fields.

Located in Great Barrington MA, CATA has an annual budget of $3.2M and is led by a dedicated team of 23 full-time staff, including eight resident faculty. CATA prizes its intentional organizational culture, which is characterized by collaboration, inclusivity, and a shared commitment to innovation, bold thinking, and excellence. CATA has been widely recognized for its groundbreaking work through the Mackenzie Scott Yield Giving national grant award, Massachusetts Cultural Council Commonwealth Award, NEPR Arts & Humanities Award, Mass Nonprofit Network Excellence Award, 1Berkshire Trendsetter Award, and the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative.

Position Summary: 

The Director of Programs & Performing Arts is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing CATA's performing arts programs and nurturing relationships with community-based partners to drive forward innovative art programs engaging an underserved community.

Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of a senior leadership team, the Director of Programs and Performing Arts translates CATA's strategic plan and mission into dynamic opportunities for artists with disabilities, with a special focus on expanding and elevating performance opportunities including workshops, intimate sharings of work-in-progress, and large-scale events.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an arts administrator and performing artist -whether a dancer, choreographer, actor, director, musician, or multidisciplinary creator-who brings both artistic vision and leadership experience. The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder and creative thinker, energized by collaboration and committed to advancing equity, access, and inclusion through the arts

The Director of Programs & Performing Arts works closely with two other program directors, who lead visual arts programs and who also nurture partnerships with a portfolio of CATA partners. Working collaboratively, this trio manages and leads a high-performing program department of faculty, teaching artists, and administrative staff, advancing CATA's cutting-edge mission through creative programs that transform the lives of our artists with disabilities and create opportunities for them to express their artistic agency.

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Program Coordinator and performing arts faculty including Performance Manager and Music Coordinator

Collaborates with: Executive Director and Director Leadership Team

 

Responsibilities:

Under direction of ED, work collaboratively with senior team to lead implementation of strategic plan and oversee planning, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives, driving community impact

Work collaboratively with two other program directors as the arts leadership team to design, structure, and oversee a wide variety of year-round arts workshops for people with disabilities, ensuring high-quality programming that fosters artistic growth and meaningful outcomes for artists with disabilities

Direct and oversee CATA performance events, including sharings, readings, dance and theater performances that showcase the talents of artists with disabilities and illuminate CATA's mission for diverse audiences; Develop artistic frameworks that support artist success while generating visibility, community connection, and donor engagement

Nurture and grow relationships with CATA partners, overseeing collaborations with 15-20 agencies, engaging partners in strong and regular communication, and co-designing workshop series responsive to partner goals and participants' needs and interests

Build a strong, aligned team that delivers consistent, high-impact programming, managing administrative staff and providing mentorship, guidance, and oversight to arts faculty in dance, theater, music, juggling, storytelling, and other genres; Recruit, hire, and train new performing arts faculty in line with strategic goals

Co-lead year-round planning for CATA's program department, managing budgets, setting schedules and performance goals, and creating and implementing evaluation tools and practices to assess program effectiveness, inform decision-making, and strengthen program outcomes

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 8-10 years experience in arts administration, with an extensive background in the performing arts
• A. in performing arts or related field; Master's degree is a plus
• Proven track record of managing a team to meet benchmarks and achieve success
• Proven track record of cultivating strong partnerships with community-based organizations
• Demonstrable skills in creating just, equitable, and inclusive programming
• Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team setting
• Ability to successfully engage groups of performing artists across a spectrum of ability and uphold inclusion and artistic excellence; experience working with artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities preferred
• Proficiency in Google and MS Office suites required
• Spanish-language and/or ASL interpretation is a plus

Working conditions & Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit or stand at a workstation for extended periods, with shared working space in close proximity with others
• Proficient use of a computer monitor and keyboard
• Regular in-office presence and availability for meetings throughout the region required, with reliable transportation
• Reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals

Attributes: 

Exceptional leader and manager: Guides and inspires exceptional performance from team members, creating a strong, aligned department that thrives on clear feedback and works collaboratively toward strategic goals.

Exceptional relationship-builder: Dedicated to establishing and upholding strong relationships with partners, artists, staff, faculty, board, leadership, donors, and community members. Actively listens to stakeholders to nurture authentic relationships.

Strategic vision: Blends artistic vision and organizational strategy to achieve long-term objectives; Solves problems and overcomes challenges creatively and effectively, translating broad goals into achievable steps.

Strong Collaborator: Excels at working in strategy-driven, collaborative leadership model; Communicates effectively and respectfully, and works successfully in a team to establish common goals and performance measures.

Committed to equity and inclusion: Successfully engages people diverse by race, class, ethnicity, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and neurodivergence; knows how to create a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment; committed to ongoing learning in areas including disability rights and racial and social justice. Candidates with previous training in Universal Design for Learning, trauma-informed teaching, and DEI preferred.

Passion for CATA and the arts: Believes in CATA's mission and will be an impassioned advocate for our artists and for CATA's work in the community.

Total Compensation:

The Program Director is a full-time exempt position. Local travel is required to meet with partners and observe CATA programs on site. Salary is commensurate with relevant experience and in the range of $100,000 - $115,000 annually. An excellent benefits package includes:3

• 100% employer-paid health & dental insurance premiums for employees (retroactively effective to hire date),
• Family health and dental packages
• Retirement savings program of 401(k) Plan with 4% employer match
• Generous paid vacation plus separate sick time plus 14 paid holidays, two floating religious holidays, birthday holiday, and extra restorative days
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Paid family leave
• Paid professional development opportunities
• CATA is a qualified employer under the PSLF federal student loan forgiveness plan
• Active participation in a mission driven organization with a positive work culture and a strong impact on the community.

How To Apply:

CATA is an equal opportunity employer with a mission rooted in equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates who contribute to the diversity of our organization.

Please send a resume and cover letter explaining why you're interested in this position and how your past experience and accomplishments make you qualified. Cover letters will be considered as a writing sample. Non-local candidates must include plans and timeline for relocation to Berkshire County. Apply here: https://www.applicantpro.com/openings/cataarts/jobs

All inquiries and materials will be confidential.

Apply by: Position open until filled

About CATA: 

Located in Great Barrington, MA, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) is an innovative nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities, focusing especially on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injuries. CATA has been a trailblazer in artistic inclusion for over 30 years. CATA boasts a state-of-the-art facility, robust community partnerships, dynamic programs, strong equity initiatives, a strong financial foundation, and loyal donor retention. In CATA's powerful arts programs, children, teens, and adults with disabilities explore new interests and express themselves creatively, developing personally and artistically through dance, theater, singing, drumming, juggling, painting, yoga, creative writing, and more. Their vibrant work is showcased in CATA's public events– performances, readings, and art exhibits, presented in collaboration with premier cultural institutions in the Berkshires including The Clark Art Institute, Shakespeare & Company, and The Mount. CATA has been recognized for its groundbreaking work by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Commonwealth Award, NEPM Arts & Humanities Award, Mass Nonprofit Network Excellence Award, 1Berkshire Trendsetter Award, the MacKenzie Scott Yield Giving national grant award, and the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative. ​​Learn more at www.cataarts.org

CATA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates. CATA welcomes people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, religions, ages, and sexual orientations to apply.

Salary : $100,000 - $115,000